Petunia plant named &#39;sunsurfcopasamo&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  petunia  plant particularly distinguished by medium-size, single, pink flowers with red-purple venation, abundant branching with a great profusion of blooms, excellent tolerance to low temperatures, and a compact, mounding growth habit is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Petunia hybrida Vilm.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Sunsurfcopasamo’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of petunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida Vilm., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Sunsurfcopasamo’. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in May 2002 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The female parent was a cultivar petunia plant ‘Fantasy Crystal Red’ (unpatented), while the male parent was a proprietary petunia plant ‘P01-583’ (unpatented).

The new cultivar was created in 2002 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.

-   -   A) Single, medium-size, pink flowers with red-purple venation;     -   B) Abundant branching with a great profusion of blooms;     -   C) Compact and mounding plant habit;     -   D) Whole plant remains in bloom for a considerable period of         time; and     -   E) Excellent tolerance to low temperatures.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show blooms and foliage of the plant in full color, the colors shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 4-month-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage.

FIG. 2 shows the mature flower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Sunsurfcopasamo’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The plant history was taken on 4-month old plants which were planted as rooted cuttings in 15-cm pots in 2005 and grown in a greenhouse between 13° C. and 23° C. The plants were pinched once in April 2005. Observations were made when the plants were in full flower in June 2005. Color readings were taken under natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (RHS) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Botanical.—Petunia hybrida Vilm.         -   Common name.—Petunia. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘Fantasy Crystal Red’, a cultivar bright-red             (RHS 52A) with light rose-red venation flowered petunia             plant (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—‘P01-583’, a proprietary pink with red-purple             venation flowered petunia plant (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Form.—Annual.         -   Habit.—Compact and mounding, freely branching, vigorous.         -   Height (measured from the top of the soil).—15.2 cm.         -   Diameter or area of spread.—34.6 cm.         -   Propagation.—Terminal tips for cutting.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 2 to 3             weeks, in April to late October, for a 15-cm pot.         -   Keeping quality.—210 days.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use in containers, pots and             landscaping; excellent tolerance to temperatures below 5° C.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—7 days at 20° C. to 25°             C.         -   Time to produce rooted cutting or liner (young plant).—21             days at 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Light brown, fibrous, fine; fleshy,             freely-branching. -   Branches:     -   -   Number of branches.—6 basal branches; 18 lateral branches.         -   Length of lateral branches.—13.6 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.21 cm. -   Stems:     -   -   Description.—Round in cross-section.         -   Color.—RHS 144A.         -   Stem length.—13.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.21 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.9 cm.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single leaves, 12.8 leaves per             lateral branch.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Color (mature leaves).—Upper surface: RHS 137B Lower             surface: RHS 146C.         -   Color (immature leaves).—Upper surface: RHS 137B Lower             surface: RHS 146C.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Size.—Length: 4.7 cm Width: 2.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Texture.—Smooth, pubescent both sides.         -   Venation.—Type: Reticulate Color: Upper surface: RHS 144C             Lower surface: RHS 144C.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.75 cm Diameter: 0.14 cm Color: RHS 144C             Texture: Pubescent. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Color.—RHS N144D.         -   Shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Size.—Length: 3.7 cm. Diameter: 0.47 cm. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous from Spring to Fall.         -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower, self-cleaning.         -   Arrangement.—Borne in upper leaf axils.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outward.         -   Shape.—Single, salverform.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower number (per inflorescence).—One.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—91.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—5 days.         -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 144A Length: 3.1 cm Diameter: 0.11 cm             Texture: Pubescent, viscid Angle: Outward. -   Flowers:     -   -   Size.—Height (flower depth): 3.6 cm Diameter: 5.1 cm.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Tube Diameter (proximal end): 0.28 cm Color             (outside): RHS N77D with RHS N144D venation Texture:             Pubescent.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl Shape: Very broadly             obovate, fused Quantity: 5 Size: Length (from the throat):             2.0 cm Width: 2.4 cm Apex: Rounded Base: Fused Margin:             Entire, weakly undulated Color (when opening): Upper             surface: RHS 73B with RHS 60B venation Lower surface: RHS             75C with RHS 54A venation Color (fully opened): Upper             surface: RHS 75B with RHS 60B venation Lower surface: RHS             75C with RHS 54A venation Throat color (inside): RHS 150C             with RHS 176B venation Throat diameter (distal end): 0.94 cm             Petal texture (both surfaces): Smooth, satiny.         -   Calyx.—Form: Tubular, star-shape Length: 1.3 cm Diameter:             1.4 cm.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl Number: 5 Shape: Elliptic             Apex: Rounded Base: Fused Margin: Entire Size: Length: 1.02             cm Width: 0.25 cm Color (mature): Upper surface: RHS 137A             Lower surface: RHS 137C Color (immature): Upper surface: RHS             137A Lower surface: RHS 137C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5 Filament: Length: 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm             Color: RHS 145C Anther: Shape: Ellipsoidal Size: Length: 0.2             cm Width: 0.2 cm Color: RHS 10D.         -   Pollen.—Amount: Moderate Color: RHS 10B.         -   Pistil.—Quantity: One Length: 1.84 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 1.7 cm Color: RHS 144D.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Transversely ellipsoidal Color: RHS 143B.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 144A. -   Fruit and seed set: Seed production has not been observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility to diseases or insects noted to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Sunsurfcopasamo’ differs from the female parent ‘Fantasy Crystal Red’ (unpatented), by having pink flowers with red-purple venation, while ‘Fantasy Crystal Red’ has bright-red flowers with light rose-red venation. Additionally, ‘Sunsurfcopasamo’ has a mounding plant habit, while ‘Fantasy Crystal Red’ has an upright plant habit.

‘Sunsurfcopasamo’ differs from the male parent ‘P01-583’ (unpatented), by having a mounding plant habit and a larger flower diameter, while ‘P01-583’ has a decumbent plant habit and smaller flower diameter.

‘Sunsurfcopasamo’ is similar to the commercial variety ‘Suncopablue’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,355) however, there are differences as listed in Table 1 below: TABLE 1 Comparison of Characteristics between ‘Sunsurfcopasamo’ and ‘Suncopablue’ Characteristic ‘Sunsurfcopasamo’ ‘Suncopablue’ Growth Habit Mounding Decumbent Leaf Shape Ovate Elliptic Leaf Apex Obtuse Acute Leaf length 4.7 cm 3.2 cm Leaf color Upper surface: RHS 137B Upper surface: (mature) Lower surface: RHS 146C RHS 144B Lower surface: RHS 146C Flower diameter 5.1 cm 4.4 cm Flower height 3.6 cm 3.0 cm Petal color Upper surface: RHS 75B Upper surface: (fully opened) with RHS 60B venation RHS N87A Lower surface: RHS 75C Lower surface: with RHS 54A venation RHS N87C Throat color RHS 150C with RHS 176B RHS N81C (inside) venation Corolla color RHS N77D with RHS RHS 83B (outside) N144D venation Calyx length 1.3 cm 1.0 cm Peduncle length 3.1 cm 1.8 cm Anther color RHS 10D RHS 150D Stigma color RHS 143B RHS 15C 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of petunia plant as shown and described herein. 